Mitochondrial genomes and polymorphic regions of Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), two important edible caterpillars of Southern Africa.

Mopane worms are the vernacular designation for the edible caterpillars of the African emperor moths Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja. Both species, particularly G. belina, are widely harvested in Southern Africa, and their populations are declining. Despite their commercial, nutritional, and cultural importance, their genetic data are currently unavailable. We sequenced two complete mitogenomes from each species using Ion Torrent technology, and identified informative markers in the complete mitogenomes of the two species for use in future studies. Comparing the conspecific mitogenomes allowed the identification of regions with high nucleotide diversity in ATP6, ND1, ND4, ND5, ND6, and CYTB genes. The final panels of markers will allow for the survey of 3117 bp in G. belina, and 3990 bp in Gy. maja. Phylogenetic reconstruction within the family Saturniidae recovered the tribe Bunaeini as monophyletic and basal to Saturniidae, and the tribe Attacini as a monophyletic clade nested within the tribe Saturniini. The G. belina and Gy. maja mitogenomes are the first representatives of African Saturniidae, a taxonomic group with relevance as a food resource on the continent. This study represents the first step towards assessing the genetic diversity, population structure, and phylogeography of African edible caterpillars.

Active middle ear implants in patients undergoing subtotal petrosectomy: new application for the Vibrant Soundbridge device and its implication for lateral cranium base surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The functional outcome of ossiculoplasties in chronic ear and lateral cranium base surgery depends on the presence of a ventilated middle ear space and is guided by the existence or absence of ossicular remnants. In patients with poorly ventilated middle ears, after multiple previous operations, missing stapes suprastructure, or after partial temporal bone resection for tumor removal, restoration of conductive hearing is not possible. The direct placement of a vibrating floating mass transducer (FMT) onto the round window membrane with obliteration of the surgical cavity is a new option. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Starting in January 2006, five patients underwent a subtotal petrosectomy to control their chronically discharging ear, to remove residual cholesteatoma, or to revise previous incompletely exenterated cavities. Four patients underwent a simultaneous placement of a Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) onto the round window membrane; one patient had a staged reconstruction after initial Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid rehabilitation. In all operations, the external ear canal and the eustachian tube were closed, and the cavity was obliterated using abdominal fat. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative pure tone audiograms were analyzed in respect to deterioration of inner ear function, aided and unaided (hearing aid, VSB, and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid) speech audiograms were compared to verify improvements in communication skills, functional gains were calculated at comfortable level settings, and postoperative computed tomographic scans were used to exclude recurrent disease and to confirm the position of the FMT onto the round window membrane. Patient's satisfaction was measured using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: All patients were very satisfied daily users of their middle ear implant and had complete eradication of their middle ear pathology. Bone conduction worsened at 2 kHz, with preservation of inner ear function in the other frequencies. Whereas none of the patients had any unaided speech discrimination before the surgery at conversational levels, all patients obtained 95 to 100% correct monosyllabic scores at 70 to 80 dB using the VSB. The functional gain was highest at higher frequencies. CONCLUSION: Patients with combined hearing loss undergoing subtotal petrosectomy with complete fat obliteration of the middle ear and mastoid area can be safely rehabilitated, placing the FMT of a VSB onto the round window membrane, either at the time of primary surgery, or as a staged secondary procedure.